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| Africa Subsaharan |
| South African court jails Henry Okah for 24 years |
| 2013-03-27 |
| [Guardian Ng] NIGERIAN krazed killer Henry Okah who has been found guilty of 13 terrorism-related charges over twin boom-mobileings during the country's Independence Day in 2010 is to spend 24 years in jail. The verdict was given Tuesday by a South African court. At least 12 people were killed and 36 others injured during the bombings. Okah led a group, which said it was fighting to help Niger Delta residents gain a greater share of the oil wealth from their part of southern Nigeria. According to a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report, the court established that Okah is the former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta ... a confederation of bands of bandidos portraying itself of a political organization grabbing for Nigeria's oil boodle ... (MEND). He also received a 13-year jail term for threats made to the South African government after his arrest in October 2010 but this runs concurrently with his 24-year sentence. The judge found that the state had proven Okah's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt because he didn't testify in his own defence during the trial. He had repeatedly denied any involvement in the bombings. Prosecutors have argued that although Okah is not a South African citizen, the country had the jurisdiction to try him under the International Co-operation in Criminal Matters Act. Analysts believe it would have been too dangerous for him to be tried in Nigeria because of the presence of his krazed killer supporters. |
| Posted by:Fred |